Abstract: Disclosed is a 2-pyrrolidone polymer or copolymer having optionally substituted methylol groups, and a process for producing the 2-pyrrolidone polymer or copolymer having methylol groups, the process comprising reacting a 2-pyrrolidone polymer or copolymer with an aldehyde.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biodegradable polymer comprising an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 5 or more carbon atoms at at least one terminal of the polymer chain, wherein the biodegradable polymer has a weight-average molecular weight of not less than 35,000 when the biodegradable polymer has a 2-pyrrolidone polymer or copolymer as its main chain and stearic acid at the terminal of the polymer chain; a molded article comprising the biodegradable polymer; and a method for controlling biodegradability of a biodegradable polymer, comprising introducing an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group into the terminal of the polymer chain of the biodegradable polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 2-pyrrolidone polymer or copolymer having optionally substituted methylol groups, and a process for producing the 2-pyrrolidone polymer or copolymer having methylol groups, the process comprising reacting a 2-pyrrolidone polymer or copolymer with an aldehyde.

Abstract: Chitinase with the following physico-chemical properties 1 to 6: 1. action: random cutting of the &bgr;-1,4 bond of chitin to generate the tetramer and dimer of Nacetylglucosamine; 2. optimum pH: 6.5 to 10.4; 3. stable pH: 7.0 to 9.0; 4. optimum temperature: 37° C.; 5. active temperature range: 4 to 60° C.; and 6. thermal stability: 60% or more of the initial activity as retained even after heating at 40° C. and pH 8.0 for 30 minutes; and a method for producing chitinase, comprising culturing a chitinase-generating bacterium reacting with chitin to generate the N-acetylglucosamine oligomer and collecting chitinase from the culture.

Abstract: A process for producing N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase comprising incubating a microorganism which belongs to the marine psychrotrophic bacterium Vibrio sp. and recovering the N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase from the culture thus obtained; N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase; and a bacterium belonging to the marine psychrotrophic bacterium Vibrio sp.

Abstract: A process for producing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine deacetylase which comprises incubating a microorganism belonging to the genus Alteromonas and recovering N-acetyl-D-glucosamine deacetylase from the culture thus obtained.

Abstract: A glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase having specific physicochemical properties. A process for producing the glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase which comprises incubating a microorganism belonging to the genus Vibrio and harvesting the glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase from the culture thus obtained.

Abstract: A process for producing deacetylase which comprises incubating a deacetylase-producing bacterium belonging to Vibrio cholerae in a IFO 15429 culture medium containing a carbon source, a nitrogen source, an inorganic salt and an inducer for producing the deacetylase and isolating the deacetylase from cells separated from said culture medium.

Abstract: There are provided N-acetyl-D-glucosamine deacetylase capable of hydrolyzing acetamide group of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine to produce D-glucosamine and acetic acid, which has the following physicochemical properties:(1) Substrate specificity: N-acetyl-D-glucosamine monomer, not the oligomer or polymer thereof;(2) Optimal pH: 7.8-8.2 at 37.degree. C.;(3) Stable pH: 6.0-9.0 at 45.degree. C.;(4) Optimal temperature: 28.degree.-39.degree. C.;(5) Molecular weight: 70,000-200,000 as determined using TSK-gel G-3000 SW column,and a process for preparing the same using a microorganism belonging to Vibrio sp.